Thursday, 17 April 2014

Not all YouTube videos are shared equally. When uploading your masterpiece, you can tweak the settings, so it's only viewed by people who you really want to see it.

There are three options:

Private - only you can see the video. Why are you uploading a video you don't want anyone else to see? We use this option to check all the details before releasing a video on the day of a campaign. It can only be seen by a maximum of 50 people if you send them a special URL, and they log into their YouTube accounts.

Unlisted - only people with the link can see the video: it will not show up in search results. This is a good option for videos you want to share, but keep private. My ukulele band uses this option to share videos of strumming patterns and harmonies taken at practise. It wouldn't be a disaster if one of those videos got out (unlisted videos can be passed on and viewed by anyone with the link), but it we would much rather keep it quiet!

Public - everyone can see the video, and it will show up in search results. Oh, and it will automatically be posted to Google+.

The best way to control privacy online? Don't put anything online that you wouldn't mind others seeing.

As much as we pretend that it isn't, the internet is real life. If you wouldn't say it to someone's face don't put it on the internet.

Context is everything, because you talk differently to your boss than you do your best friend - I'm for honesty and transparency over Best Behaviour at all times. But if you'd spew vitriol in the comments section that you wouldn't say to your worst enemy, you're being bad at internet.

Layers of molten plastic are laid down over one another, to form more or less any shape. It reminds me of crochet: once you have a foundation chain, you can move in just about any direction, but you're always building a layer on top of the one below it.

If I had a 3D printer of my very own, this is what I'd use it for: new necklace and earrings every morning. I've been looking at examples of 3D printing, and in my opinion, the most interesting and sculptural interpretations of the medium have been in jewellery design.

That bottle opener promises it's for an "Australian coin," but a New Zealand ten cent piece fits perfectly. It took about an hour to print.

It needs the coin, because the 3D printed material is on the soft side.

It's biodegradable, so I can compost it when I'm done. It's the same stuff that's used to hold in the insides of capsules and pills, apparently: I'm sure my vitamin tablets are covered with the same stuff.

How much did this all cost me? A grand total of seventy cents. Auckland Libraries charges ten cents per gram to print. They have a bunch of different colours you can print with, and you can just wander up to the MakerSpace during their advertised hours, and they'll help you print just about anything.

I'd love to see 3D printers become household items, but they're not quite at that stage yet. They're fiddly, and kind of expensive to buy.

Still, 3D printing's really cool, and if you've got the chance, I'd encourage you to have a play with a machine.

If you're interested in 3D printing in Auckland, or New Zealand, check out these links: